Cervantes b otd 1547! Wonderful: “When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”

Beloved Harpo Marx d otd 1964. He still brings us such joy; what a face - the wonderfully expressive eyes, impish grin, the veering between ecstatic happiness and outraged indignation. And so lovely to hear his voice on the recently rediscovered recording of Peter and the Wolf!

Stern thought for the day,on art and aspiration, from Edgar Degas (d otd 1917): “You must aim high, not in what you are going to do at some future date, but in what you are going to make yourself do today. Otherwise working is just a waste of time.” And: ‘Beauty is a mystery’.

A very happy 85th to the great Salvatore Accardo! On the Beethoven concerto: "With a genuine masterpiece, it always feels fresh, each rendition feels like a new interpretation, and you can always find something different to say. It’s what I call the miracle of great music."

Shostakovich b otd 120 years ago! What a composer. He certainly gave musical voice to those suffering from oppression- but there's so much more to his music than that! His soaring imagination, tenderness, humour - and control of forms (including fugues, of course). A true master.

Theodor Seuss Geigel (aka Dr Seuss) d otd 35 years ago. Such glorious books... “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Lovely words from John Coltrane, b 100 years ago! "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am - my faith, my knowledge, my being." When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hang-ups."

Isaac Stern d otd 35 years ago. A great musician and a wise man: ‘The goal of the artist is not to be noticed, but to make the music noticed.’ ‘Art is the struggle to express the inexpressible through a limited set of tools.’ ‘The beauty of a melody is in its vulnerability.’

Leonard Cohen b otd 1934 - what a voice, what words...and what a face! “Do not be a magician - be magic!” “It is in love that we are made, in love we disappear.” "Dance me to the end of love." But, more soberly: “Reality is one of the possibilities I cannot afford to ignore.”

Sibelius d otd 1957. What a magical, uniquely stirring voice - his music recreates nature... And a fascinating man! "I often conduct an orchestra in my sleep; my orchestras are so huge that the back desks of the violas vanish into the horizon. And everything is so wonderful."

It would be hard to describe Prussia Cove as ugly. In fact, I would go so far to venture that it would be inaccurate...

Wit/wisdom from Samuel Johnson (b otd 1709): “I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.” “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” “A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.” “It is better to live rich than to die rich.”

Words of wisdom from he extraordinary Hildegerd von Bingen (d otd 1179): "We cannot live in a world interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a hope. Part of the terror is to take back our listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.”

Nadia Boulanger b otd 1887. A truly great, unique musician. And...on being a female conductor: "I've been a woman for a little over 50 years and have gotten over my initial astonishment. As for conducting an orchestra, that's a job where I don't think sex plays much part."

Wonderful words from the great Jessye Norman (b otd 1945): "Pigeon-holes are only comfortable for pigeons." "I revel in those things that make for good - the things that we can do to shed a little light.. Long live art, long live friendship, long live the joy of life!"

I'm always looking for true soulmates with whom to play chamber music, and a few days ago in Toronto, I think I found one...

Wisdom from James Fennimore Cooper, who d otd 175 years ago! Major writer - and also known to musicians because Schubert was a fan, and on his deathbed asked for more of his books. “History, like love, is so apt to surround her heroes with an atmosphere of imaginary brightness.”

2 very different musicians b otd! Clara Schumann (1819): "My imagination can picture no fairer happiness than to continue living for art." Schoenberg (1874): "His music leads us into a realm where musical experience is a matter not of the ear but of the soul alone." (Kandinsky)

Jean-Philippe Rameau d otd 1764. As the story goes, Rameau was lying on his deathbed inert, nearing his end. A priest, brought in for the last rites, started to chant. Suddenly a voice erupted from the bed: "What the devil do you mean to sing to me, priest? You are out of tune!"

A very happy 91st to the great Arvo Pärt! On his music: "In art everything is possible, but everything is not necessary.” “This music is about the silence. The sounds are there to surround the silence.” “I had to get rid of everything unnecessary…in order to save myself.”